By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Willamette University softball team opened Northwest Conference play with a doubleheader at Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, March 9. The Pioneers had a couple of strong outings from their pitching staff to earn a pair of wins. They claimed game one 10-1 on the run rule in five innings and took the nightcap 7-0.

Two Big Innings Lead Pioneers to Game One Win

Lewis & Clark took a 10-0 lead with five runs in the third and fourth innings of game one. The Pioneers hit a pair of home runs and used an RBI double, recording five hits in the third inning, to pull in front 5-0.

The Pioneers strung together five hits in the fourth inning as well, adding five more runs to extend the lead to double digits. They loaded the bases before a single from Madison Scoggins drove in two runs to stretch the margin to 7-0. Scoggins scored on an error while Cami Restango and Gina Ozuna added RBI singles.

The Bearcats scored a lone run in the top of the fifth but couldn't close the gap enough to avoid the eight-run rule, dropping the opener, 10-1. Mia Rogers (So., 2B/SS/P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) singled and came around to score on a double from Kendra Knapp (Gr., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) to break up a no-hitter and spoil the shutout effort.

Maggie O'Leary earned the win for Lewis & Clark as the Pioneers improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 3-6 and 0-1.

Rogers Goes 2-for-3 in Game Two at Lewis & Clark

Lewis & Clark had another strong pitching performance in game two, holding the Bearcats to just three hits in a 7-0 decision. The Pioneers put one run on the board in the first inning, adding two in the second and another lone run in the third.

Sam Gildersleeve drove in a run in the first and hit a solo home run in the third. Katie Ingersoll added a two-run triple in the second inning and drove in two more runs in the fifth inning as Puget Sound tallied three for the 7-0 final score.

Rogers went 2-for-3 to lead Willamette at the plate. Brianna Majors (Gr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) added the other hit for the Bearcats. Kenna Davis (Jr., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) had a solid outing in the circle, despite the loss, adding seven strikeouts to her season total.

The Bearcats slip to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette returns to Portland on Sunday for another doubleheader with Lewis & Clark. The first pitch of game one is set for 11 a.m. PDT.